China has deployed its second aircraft carrier, 'Shandong,' to patrol waters off the Philippine coast as Manila intensifies its efforts to assert claims over a disputed shoal in the South China Sea, opposing Beijing's counterclaims.
The Shandong, with a displacement of about 70,000 tonnes, was observed patrolling the waters as a deterrent against "continuous Philippine provocations" on Chinese islands and reefs, according to a report by the state-run Global Times on Monday.
The deployment of Shandong comes amid heightened maritime territorial conflicts between China and the Philippines.
Experts quoted by Chinese media suggest that the aircraft carrier is on a scheduled exercise that might also prepare it for potential long-distance voyages into the West Pacific.
In response to rising tensions, the People's Liberation Army (PLA) has also deployed major surface combat ships, including large and medium destroyers, as well as main amphibious landing ships in the South China Sea.
Ni Lexiong, a defence professor at Shanghai University of Political Science and Law, told the Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post that Shandong's presence aims to act as a deterrent to both Manila and Washington, highlighting "China's determination to protect territorial sea sovereignty" amid tensions over the Second Thomas Shoal.
Chester Cabalza, president and founder of International Development and Security Cooperation, a Manila-based think-tank, described the carrier's patrol as "performative politics" by Beijing, warning that frequent such patrols might indicate a significant security threat.
He added, "Once we see massive military force, that means Beijing is preparing for a war."
Amid these tensions, a Chinese Coast Guard ship rescued two Philippine fishermen after their vessel suffered damage from an explosion near Huangyan Dao, also known as Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea.
The Philippine side expressed gratitude for the humanitarian rescue conducted by the China Coast Guard, according to Global Times.
The confrontation between China and the Philippines in the South China Sea has escalated to violence, with naval ships from both nations colliding last month.
This marked the first such incident since Beijing issued new regulations to act against foreign vessels and detain foreigners suspected of violating its territorial waters.
A few weeks ago, a collision occurred between a Philippine naval ship and a Chinese vessel near the Second Thomas Shoal, a region claimed by Manila.
The incident further strained the already tense relations between the two countries, which have experienced numerous face-offs in recent months.
The South China Sea is a heavily disputed region, with China claiming most of it, while the Philippines, Malaysia, Vietnam, Brunei, and Taiwan also assert claims.
The Philippines, backed by the United States, is vigorously asserting its claims based on a 2016 ruling by a tribunal under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which endorsed Manila's rights.
China, which boycotted the tribunal proceedings, has rejected the ruling and continues to assert its claims fiercely. Last month, China enacted a new law empowering its coast guard to seize foreign ships illegally entering its territorial waters and detain foreign crews for up to 60 days.
The law also authorises the coast guard to use force if necessary.
In a show of support for Manila, the United States has deployed mid-range Typhon missile systems in the Philippines. Additionally, the Philippines has imported BrahMos missiles from India to bolster its defence capabilities.
China currently operates two aircraft carriers: Liaoning, a refitted Soviet-era ship, and Shandong, an indigenously built carrier commissioned in 2019. China's third aircraft carrier, Fujian, which has a displacement of 80,000 tonnes, is currently undergoing trials.
The Fujian is the first fully domestically developed and constructed aircraft carrier, equipped with an electromagnetic aircraft launch system (EMALS) similar to that of the American USS Gerald R. Ford.
Unlike China's other two carriers, which have ski-jump take-off ramps, the Fujian features a flat-top flight deck. China uses its indigenously built J-15 aircraft for its carriers.
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